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City Leads

Amari Harris

City Lead — Toronto

Amari is a student, advocate, and creative with a strong passion for urban planning, public transit, urban design, and enhancing the pedestrian experience. As an extroverted and driven individual, his mission is to amplify the voices of those who often go unheard, particularly transit riders.

Across Canada, transit users face persistent inefficiencies and inconveniences—issues that typically arise from a lack of attention to detail and care, disparities rarely experienced by motorists sharing the same infrastructure. Amari believes it is time to challenge this imbalance and advocate for meaningful change in how we prioritize pedestrians and reimagine mobility in our communities.

Noah Dykstra

City Lead — Kitchener/Waterloo

Noah is a high school student from Kitchener, who is excited to be a part of the MTSO team. As a former resident of Calgary and a current resident of Waterloo Region, he hopes to make an impact on transit in Kitchener and Waterloo as City Lead. Within his role, he plans to improve transit accessibility and foster better, more connected communities for the twin cities.

In his free time, Noah enjoys exploring ways to design systems that make urban spaces more liveable and efficient. Recently, he wrote comments to Guelph City Council in support of a Guelph to Cambridge rail link, and requested the council to advance this project which is currently in its planning stage.

“The Guelph to Cambridge rail link is not just a transportation project; it’s an investment in the future of our communities. By working together, Guelph, Cambridge, and the Region of Waterloo can demonstrate their commitment to sustainable growth, economic prosperity, and the well-being of residents across the region.”

Mary Cappellani

City Lead — Durham

As a lifelong resident of Durham Region and an active Durham Region Transit (DRT) rider, Mary is deeply passionate about advocating for public transit that reflects the needs of riders and supports the local community. Her commitment is driven by firsthand experience, with a focus on ensuring accessible, reliable, and equitable transit solutions for all.

What's the difference between a City Lead and a regular volunteer?

City Leads oversee MTSO's local operations in your city. They advocate for transit policies relevant to your jurisdiction while actively engaging with riders to understand their needs and concerns. They also connect with key stakeholders who are working to improve the transit network for local residents.

Volunteers serve as the eyes and ears of our organization, but City and Regional Leads are the vital links that shape MTSO’s policies, reports, and advocacy efforts.

MTSO thrives on grassroots advocacy, having dedicated City Leads ensures our efforts are informed by the communities we serve.

Local Advocacy: Ensuring that transit policies and improvements address the specific needs of riders in their city.
Community Engagement: Connecting with transit users, gathering feedback, and amplifying their concerns.
Service Updates & Consultations: Monitoring changes to local transit services, participating in public consultations, and advocating for improvements directly with municipal transit agencies.